Sixth-formers impressed by quality of teaching, Elwa survey finds

A BIG majority of school sixth-formers in Wales have given a thumbs-up to the quality of teaching they receive, praising the ability of most teachers to explain their subject and make good use of lesson time.

A BIG majority of school sixth-formers in Wales have given a thumbs-up to the quality of teaching they receive, praising the ability of most teachers to explain their subject and make good use of lesson time.

In the first comprehensive survey of its kind, 86% of students said they were satisfied with the quality of teaching and 50% described themselves as either "very or extremely", satisfied with this aspect of their educational experience.

The most positive results came from Welsh-medium and rural schools. Girls tended to be happier than boys and, of the four Welsh regions, students in the South West came out as most satisfied.

However, overall one in four students (26%) admitted that they lacked sufficient motivation in their studies and only 15% claimed to be "highly motivated".

The problem of poor motivation was most acute among those who had not secured their first choice school or course or who felt they did not have a choice.

About one in five said they were not pursuing their first choice of course, either because their preferred subject wasn't available at their school, there was a timetable clash or teachers had advised against it.

The survey by NOP World of 5,717 students at 54 school sixth forms was commissioned by the post-16 learning body Elwa as part of a wider Customer Research Strategy designed to ensure that future decisions on public investment in learning are based on substantial objective evidence provided by learners themselves.

The results of the survey will be the subject of further study and consultation with partners and learning providers over the coming months as Elwa develops its strategies for the future of post-16 education in Wales.

Students participating in the survey completed questionnaires about their learning experiences and this was merged with comments made by students in 12 special focus groups held in eight schools across Wales.

Information gathered from these focus groups suggested that, where sixth formers were less than fully satisfied, their feelings stemmed from being given less freedom than they expected or from problems in coping with workload and deadlines.

On the issue of choice, a significant minority claimed they did not consider other options before deciding to move into the sixth form of their existing school. Only 34% had sought advice on where to study and 58% on what subjects to study.

The survey showed that those sixth formers who took advice regarding their course or learning location were more likely to be well-motivated than those who didn't take advice. Of those who took advice about seven out of 10 consulted teachers or Careers Wales advisers.

Girls were more likely than boys to take advice from their parents and, overall, about one in three students took advice from friends on their learning options.

Among the 26% who admitted in the survey that they lacked motivation, the most commonly quoted reason was the heavy workload, demanded of them.

Overall, however, a substantial majority of students (80%) said the volume and standard of work was in line with their expectations.

The report released this week was the first of its kind produced regarding the sixth form sector in Wales.

Each school which participated in the survey will be sent its own set of results showing how students' attitudes compared against the national picture. Individual students or teachers will not be identified.

Grenville Jackson, Elwa's director of strategy and skills said, "It's encouraging to receive positive feedback from sixth form students about their learning experiences and particularly about the quality of their teachers.

"Clearly there are issues concerning the choice or perceived lack of choice open to some students and how this might be affecting their motivation and performance."